Harris County commissioners approve one of the largest tax rates in recent history
Harris County commissioners approved one of the largest tax rate increases in recent history that could add at least $100 to your property tax bill.
The Piney Point
Government
John Cornyn says he won’t vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday that he will not vote for Bo French for Texas railroad commissioner after a Sunday post by his fellow Republican on X calling Asian students at the University of Texas a “problem.” “He’s an embarrassment to the Republican Party, and he’s going ...
Sugar Land adopts 3.6% property tax increase, adding about $59 a year for median homeowner
Sugar Land homeowners were originally facing a property tax increase of about $96 a year — more than 6% — before City Council approved a lower tax rate this week....
Harris County commissioners approve historic $3.1 billion budget, finalize tax hike
In total, the 2027 county tax rate has been set at $0.67 per $100 of valuation — a 7.6 percent increase from last year's tax rate of $0.62, according to agenda documents. It's one of the highest combined tax rates passed by Harris County in 20 years....
Harris County funds 24/7 ankle monitor staffing after murder defendant fled to Italy
Harris County is putting $1.4 million toward around-the-clock ankle monitor oversight, a direct response to the high-profile case of a capital murder defendant who cut off his device and fled to Italy months before his scheduled trial. Commissioners approved the funding as part o...
Hidalgo criticizes Harris County budget after historic property tax hike, calls spending ‘unsustainable’
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is criticizing the county’s newly approved budget, calling it “irresponsible” and “unsustainable” after Commissioners Court approved the largest property tax hike in county history. Hidalgo spoke to reporters Thursday after commissioners approved ...
Texans have less than 3 weeks to register to vote for November 2026 midterm election
Texas law requires eligible citizens to register 30 days before Election Day, meaning that Oct. 5 is the last day to register for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm election....
Houston veterans’ organization rolls out voter outreach initiative
Combined Arms’ Civic After Service initiative particularly hopes to reach immigrant veterans who are preparing to vote for the first time. The initiative is launching Sept. 17 to coincide with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day....
Appeals court weighs Trump-backed Missouri congressional map despite Supreme Court block
A federal appeals court panel on Thursday was considering an attempt to resurrect new Missouri congressional districts backed by President Donald Trump, even though the U.S. Supreme Court blocked those districts from being used in the November election. A three-judge panel of the...
City error allowed teardown of historic Houston home in Independence Heights
Before her grandmother died, Dr. Sabrina Norman, 70, promised her she would move back to their family home in Independence Heights to protect their legacy. The neighborhood –the first Black municipality to be incorporated in Texas - has changed rapidly in the last 20 years, with ...
Harris County commissioners pass property tax rate increase, approve $3 billion budget
Harris County commissioners have made their votes on the proposed property tax rate increases intended to help close an estimated $181 million budget shortfall....
“Uncharted territory”: Two months from Election Day, Democrats in Texas are truly competitive
Democrat James Talarico is consistently leading in the polls over Ken Paxton, which is unheard of in recent decades. National forecasters are calling Texas a tie, or else giving the advantage to the Democrat....
Harris County approves largest property tax hike in county history. Here’s what homeowners could pay
Harris County Commissioners approved a historic property tax increase Thursday that will raise the combined tax rate to about 67 cents for every $100 of taxable value. That means if you own a home assessed at $400,000 your taxes will increase by almost $200 a year. The public com...
2 Newsletter: Tropical moisture brings rain chances + Harris County property tax vote looms
Good morning, Houston.☀️ We’ve got tropical moisture moving in today, so heavy rain is possible across southeast Texas—but a strong cap could keep storms from developing as much as expected. Also, Harris County commissioners are also set to vote on a budget that could mean higher...
2026 Toy Hall of Fame finalists released | Cast your vote
The Hall announced its 12 finalists for the Class of 2026 on Wednesday. Voting is open to the public and a panel of judges until Sept. 23.
At least 48 dead in Nigeria after consuming drink suspected to contain methanol, authorities say
At least 48 people have died and around 100 others are receiving treatment in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic concoction suspected to contain methanol , officials said on Thursday. Banji Ajaka, Ondo state's commissioner for health, said the cases had b...
Russia votes in wartime parliamentary election set to secure the Kremlin's power
It's a challenging time for Russia to hold a parliamentary election, even one whose outcome is all but assured. The economic and political climate has been seriously affected by 4½ years of full-fledged war with Ukraine. Swarms of enemy drones have inflicted massive damage on Rus...
House passes bill aimed at addressing impact of data centers on energy costs
The House overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday that aims to have artificial intelligence data centers pay for their substantial energy needs as lawmakers used what was expected to be their final day in Washington before the midterm elections to address a growing voter concern...
Conroe considers bid to host proposed US Space Academy
Conroe city leaders are exploring an exploratory effort to position the municipality as a potential host for the newly proposed U.S. Space Academy. Local officials point to 214 shovel-ready acres at Deison Technology Park, available housing, regional airport access, and a strong ...
Speaker Johnson recesses the House early as Rep. Thomas Massie pushes Hegseth impeachment
Speaker Mike Johnson is closing up the House early, sending lawmakers home Wednesday to campaign for the midterm elections after what he claims is the most productive Congress in decades. But not without a scathing rebuke from GOP Rep. Thomas Massie for all the unfinished busines...
City of Houston approves $20.4M contract to help speed permitting, code enforcement
Houston City Council unanimously approved an agreement Tuesday allowing SAFEbuilt Texas LLC to provide on-demand services for Houston Public Works.
Texas and feds announce noncitizen voting charges against seven people
State officials also referred 117 people for investigation related to noncitizen voting, but confirmed nearly 600 other flagged voters are U.S. citizens....
House to adjourn early, stave off Hegseth impeachment vote
House Republicans had planned to remain in session until Thursday, but will now take their last votes Wednesday evening on a major White House priority....
Lamar CISD votes to move Tesla’s JETI application forward
Lamar CISD has approved its portion of an agreement for a state economic incentive as Tesla finalizes its site selection for a new manufacturing facility....
Houston Public Media Foundation Announces New Board Leadership and Members
The Houston Public Media Foundation today announced the appointment of new directors and officers to its board. Michael Stewart has been named president of the board of directors, succeeding John Bradshaw, who will continue to serve the board in an ex-officio role as immediate pa...
Iowa Republicans in battleground House races vote to halt Trump's ability to continue the Iran war
Two congressional Republicans in battleground Iowa districts, including one who recently campaigned alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, changed their position on an Iran war powers resolution , joining with Democrats and a few other dissident members of their party in an at...
After backlash, power grid officials back away from agreement to give ERCOT CEO millions in additional bonuses
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick balked at the contract two boards approved for Pablo Vegas. The ERCOT chief said officials then decided not to execute the deal.
Kennedy Center demolition worries rise with closing after judge blocks Trump name restoration
The Kennedy Center will close most of its facility for renovations after its Trump‑aligned board voted Tuesday to proceed with the shutdown just hours after a federal judge again blocked the institution from restoring Donald Trump’s name to the building, as lawyers warned the ven...
Senate takes first step to overhaul college sports system
Senate takes first step to advance legislation to drastically overhaul college sports system as we know it, passing a procedural vote for a full Senate vote, 74-24....
Tax break for proposed $10B Tesla solar cell factory in Fort Bend advances after Lamar CISD school board vote
In exchange for the projected tax revenue that’ll come from the proposed Tesla facility anchored in the southeastern portion of the county, the company's tax bill would be cut in half from 2029 through 2038, according to the application....
House votes for a third time to end the Iran war as conflict drags on
The House approved a war powers resolution late Tuesday that would halt President Trump’s ability to continue military action without congressional approval....
EU chief proposes bloc-wide social media ban for kids under 13
The European Union's top official proposed on Wednesday banning children under 13 across the 27-nation bloc from using social media sites and imposing limits for older teens on accessing the platforms. The plan outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen adds t...
EU chief von der Leyen calls for EU security mechanism to respond to drone incidents and sabotage
The European Union needs a NATO-like mechanism to better respond to drone incidents , acts of sabotage and cyberattacks across Europe, many of them blamed on Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. “Europe needs its own counter-hybrid playbook. ...
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become the bloc's 1st associate member
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Wednesday making Canada the European Union’s first associate member, a striking overture as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats drive Ottawa closer to Europe. Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump suggested that...
The future of Germany's leader is uncertain as his party faces 2 difficult regional elections
Two German regional elections this weekend are expected to bring more gains for a far-right party , and could determine whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz can hold on to power and push ahead with reforms to Europe's biggest economy. Merz’s authority was damaged by his party’s stin...
Former Muslim rebels lead results in first election held in southern Philippine region
Candidates from two rival parties associated with a former rebel group led the first elections in a predominately Muslim region in the southern Philippines, official results showed Wednesday. The election was a significant step forward for self-rule in the Bangsamoro Autonomous R...
In wartime Russia, veterans who fought in Ukraine are running for parliament
They lead party tickets, star in campaign videos and appear in televised debates. They are Russians who have fought in Ukraine, and they feature prominently in this week’s parliamentary election. Election officials say nearly 200 candidates have served in Ukraine, and the Kremlin...
CenterPoint Energy confirms data breach of customer personal information
CenterPoint Energy has confirmed a third-party has obtained customer personal information in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday....
House panel recommends contempt charge for billionaire Leon Black in Epstein probe
The House Oversight Committee voted Tuesday to recommend that billionaire Leon Black be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena for testimony in the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein . Republicans and Democrats joined unanimously in the bipartisan vote a...
Do you trust your vote? Inside Harris County’s election testing process
With Election Day approaching, Harris County election officials are testing thousands of pieces of voting equipment as part of an effort to demonstrate how ballots are handled and build public trust in the process. But when KPRC 2 asked people at Discovery Green whether they trus...
Harris County property taxes rising again: What it could mean for homeowners
Harris County homeowners are facing another increase in their county property-tax burden as commissioners move forward with a budget that would increase spending by hundreds of millions of dollars. The proposed budget would increase county spending by about 12 percent, or roughly...
Gov. Greg Abbott calls for data center penalties if not complying with state water laws
Gov. Greg Abbott issued another directive on data centers, calling on the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that don't comply with state water laws....
A sweeping college sports overhaul bill clears early hurdle in Senate vote
A bill that proposes to fix some of the biggest problems in college sports — spiraling spending, constant lawsuits and a transfer portal run amok — cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when the Senate voted 74-24 to halt debate and move the measure one step closer to a final up-or-down...
'Narrow-minded': UT student speaks out after Texas GOP candidate's controversial posts about student diversity
More people are speaking about the controversial comments made by the Texas GOP candidate for Railroad Commissioner about a diverse group of University of Texas students, including the students themselves....
Texas data centers could face penalties over water reporting
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the state's water development board to start penalizing major water users if they haven't complied with water use reporting requirements....
Trump's push to restrict mail ballots has failed. Other efforts to reshape the midterms are ongoing
The Supreme Court this week closed the chapter on one of President Donald Trump’s boldest efforts to reshape November’s elections — a plan that would have demanded a dramatic overhaul of the nation’s mail voting processes on what most election officials agreed was an impossibly s...
House votes to end penny production permanently: What to know
The House has advanced legislation that would formally end penny production. Here's what to know.
DHS agents allegedly directed to 'misrepresent' themselves to access state voter rolls, whistleblower claims
A whistleblower claims DHS has directed agents to "misrepresent" themselves and "violate state laws" in a voter probe, Democratic lawmakers say.
CenterPoint Energy reports customer data breach
CenterPoint Energy is investigating a cybersecurity incident involving the personal information of some of its customers, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it became aware of an online post in September claiming that a third ...
Silver says NBA looked at precedent before doling out Clippers' penalties for cap circumvention
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wanted to impose a significant punishment on the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing salary cap rules, even while understanding the impact it will have on fans hoping to see a winning team. Forfeiting five first-round draft picks might make it diff...
Kennedy Center board votes to close venue after judge blocks plan to honor Trump: report
The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees voted to close the iconic performing arts venue amid financial issues and an ongoing dispute over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building, according to Associated Press reporting citing sources familiar with the vote....
Kennedy Center will close for renovations after judge blocks returning Trump's name to building
The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted Tuesday to close most of the iconic performing arts venue just hours after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning President Donald Trump's name to the building. In a social media post, Trump said the closure was needed ...
Rep. Drew Darby tears into oil and gas commissioner for defying order to appear at Capitol
State Rep. Drew Darby , R-San Angelo, on Tuesday berated Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian for failing to appear before a legislative panel scheduled to discuss, among other things, the agency’s decision to eliminate public comment during its meetings. In light of his a...
Houston officials consider applying for grant tied to immigration enforcement
After Houston Public Media asked about the grant, Mayor John Whitmire’s office said it was “requesting clarification” on the guidelines.
Don’t be surprised at polls! Check to see if your name is on voter suspension list
If you’re planning to vote in November, today is your last chance to register. You don’t want to show up at the polls and find out your name is on the suspended list! In 2024, Governor Greg Abbott announced that over 460,000 Texans were placed on the suspended voter list. If your...
Houston's $5 solid waste administration fee: What to know
Houston’s new $5 monthly solid waste administration fee hit most residents’ water bills in September. Here’s what it costs, what it raises, and what a city-commissioned study says about service gaps. RELATED: Houston’s new $5 trash fee is hitting water bills. But it won’t cover t...
Kennedy Center board votes to immediately close center's main building, sources say, after judge blocks adding Trump tribute to Kennedy Center facade
The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees has voted to immediately close the performing arts center’s main building, according to sources.
Judge blocks Kennedy Center board from putting Trump's name on the building or grounds in any way
A federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center on Tuesday from returning President Donald Trump ’s name to the iconic performing arts venue in a move meant to recognize his renovation efforts, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building...
Senate blocks cryptocurrency regulation as Democrats push back on Trump investments
Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked legislation to create a new regulatory framework for cryptocurrency , stalling an industry-backed effort to place new guardrails around digital assets after demanding more limits on President Donald Trump's investments. The 49-50 vote on whethe...
The Latest: Board votes to close Kennedy Center amid financial woes and name dispute
The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted on Tuesday to close most of the iconic performing arts venue just hours after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the building. In a social media post, Trump said the closure was need...